The Monthly Dispatch | Higher Ed Behind Bars

ISSUE NO. 1

JANUARY 2021

The Monthly Dispatch

The latest research and announcements from your NEBHE policy team

Good riddance, 2020. Hello, 2021! The COVID-19 and Higher Ed: Biweekly Update is now The Monthly Dispatch! The new monthly newsletter will explore a wider range of policy issues that are affecting higher education in New England, feature NEBHE's latest policy research and analysis, and announce upcoming NEBHE policy events/webinars.

Do you know someone who would enjoy the monthly update? Send them this link: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/YgzfMFu/NEBHEpolicyupdate

Upcoming Events

Webinar | What Does the Declining Number of High School Graduates Mean for the Future of Higher Education?

January 29, 12:00 p.m. EST

View Event >

Announcements

NEBHE Welcomes Two Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Fellows

January 2021

NEJHE Newsblast>

ICYMI

Policy Report | Indicators of Postsecondary Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in New England

November 2020

View Report >

Policy Report | All Learning Counts State Policy Brief

November 2020

View Report >

News from our Partners

Credential Engine releases new policy brief: Using Credential Transparency to Align Education and Employment Information to Meet State Goals.

https://nebhe.org/policy-research/

Featured

Higher Education Behind Bars

Expanding Postsecondary Educational Programs in New England Prisons and Jails

By Sheridan Miller

State Policy Engagement Coordinator

On Dec. 21, 2020, Congress moved to lift the 26-year ban on federal student aid—specifically, the Pell grant—for those who are incarcerated. The decision came after a long push for prison reforms that included calls for a greater emphasis on rehabilitation, reducing prison populations, and making prison sentences less harsh.

NEBHE's latest report, Higher Education Behind Bars: Expanding Post-Secondary Educational Programs in New England Prisons and Jails, examines the effects of postsecondary opportunities for the incarcerated and formerly incarcerated in New England. Among other key findings in the report:

There are 201,860 people incarcerated, on parole, or on probation in New England, or 1.4% of the region’s population. Click here to view interactive data about the number of incarcerated individuals in New England.

Of the 45 New England prisons that publish educational data, 40 (89%) offer GED or high school courses, 28 (62%) offer associate degree-granting courses, and 8 (17%) offer bachelor’s degree-granting programs. Federally, only 35% of state prisons offer college programming. Click here to see a map and complete list of prisons with degree granting capabilities in New England.

Lower education levels are associated with higher rates of recidivism. Federally, those without a high school education recidivate at a rate of 60%, compared to those with some college experience who at a rate of 19.1%.

Educating the formerly incarcerated not only reduces recidivism, it also improves our regional economy. For every dollar spent on educational programming behind bars, taxpayers save $4-$5, depending on the state.

Higher education can be life changing for a formerly incarcerated person. Having some college experience makes it easier to find a job post-release, which has a resounding personal impact, as well as a significant long-term generational one.

Providing higher education behind bars has proven to be beneficial to many incarcerated students, their incarcerated peers, and to prison culture in general. Postsecondary education has the ability to positively change the life of an incarcerated person and to improve the community and region into which these individuals are eventually released.

Read Full Report

COVID-19 and Higher Education

Data Dashboard

Check out our COVID-19 dashboard to explore how New England's postsecondary institutions are responding to the ongoing health crisis.

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We welcome your thoughts on what you'd like to see us write about. Contact Stephanie Murphy at smurphy@nebhe.org.

As always, thanks for reading.